How To Choose The Right Candle Wick

Choosing the right type of wick for making candles is usually challenging for those who are just beginners in candle making. Fortunately, you can make wick selection for every new project every bit as simple and fun as the rest of the candle making experience.

When shopping for a wick, the four most popular kinds you will see commonly are Cotton Core, Flat Braid, Square Braid, and Wire Core types. Which wick you choose to use will greatly depend on which type you plan on making.

Wicks that are the right type and size will give you an even melting pool without a drip. Using a wick that is not big enough, and you may get an effect called “tunneling” where the candle only melts a small ring around the wick. A wick that is too long can also be potentially dangerous, as it can cause a lot of unexected smoke and burns through too quickly. If you’ve ever experienced your candles not burning the way you like or have had concerns about it being safe or not, you could possibly be using the incorrect wick for the job. While there is no one size fits all answer to this problem most people face, a little practice makes perfect. Because candle recipes are often a special blend of ingredients and a trial and error process, it can be tough to say for sure which is the right combination for everyone. Simple small batch testing can sometimes make it easier to decide the right type to use. If you are putting the time and effort into choosing candle mixing formulas then it is worth it to make sure you are using the right type of wick as well.

So how do you decide which type of wick will be the best choice for you? It will all greatly depend on whether you are making soy or beeswax candles, if you need to add in any scented oils or colors, and the overall size of your candle once it is completed. A different type and size of wick would be needed for aromatherapy candles than a paraffin candle. If you are unsure about which size you should buy, don’t hesitate to order several different varieties in different sizes to see which ones work the best for you. Something you can also do to see how the wax sets is to pour a candle without a wick to test the consistency.

Although it can take some time to get to the point where you can pick the perfect wick each time, eventually selecting one becomes natural and effortless over time. When you are able to make your candle creations something special and unique shared by all, you’ll be glad you did!